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DECISIONS 

RELATING TO 

PENSIONS 

AND 

RETIREMENT ANNUITY. 

RETIREMENT ACT. 

Public — No. 215 — 66tli Congress. S. 1699. 

An Act For the retirement of employees in the classified civil service, and for 

other purposes. 

Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That beginning at 
the expiration of ninety days next following the passage of this- act, 
all employees in the classified civil service of the United States who 
have on that date, or shall have on any date thereafter, reached the 
age of seventy years and rendered at least fifteen years of service 
computed as prescribed in section 3 of this act, shall be eligible for 
retirement on an annuity as provided in section 2 hereof : Provided^ 
That mechanics, city and rural letter carriers, and post-office clerks 
shall be eligible for retirement at sixty-five years of age, and railway 
postal clerks at sixty-two years of age, if said mechanics, city and 
rural letter carriers, post-office clerks, and railway postal clerks shall 
have rendered at least fifteen years of service computed as prescribed 
in section 3 of this act. 

The provisions of this act shall include superintendents of United 
States national cemeteries, employees of the Superintendent of the 
United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds, the Library of Con- 
gress, and the Botanic Gardens, excepting persons appointed by the 
President and confirmed by the Senate, and may be extended by 
Executive order, upon recommendation of the Civil Service Com- 
mission, to include any employee or group of employees in the civil 
service of the United States not classified at the time of the passage 
of this act. The President shall have power, in his discretion, to 
exclude from the operation of this act any employee or group of 
employees in the classified civil service whose tenure of office or 
employment is intermittent or of uncertain duration. 

All regular annual employees of the municipal government of the 
District of Columbia, appointed directly by the commissioners, or by 
other competent authority including those receiving per diem com- 

16028° — 22 — VOL 21 1 



pensation paid out of general appropriations, but whose services are 
continuous, and including public-school employees, excepting school 
officers and teachers, shall be included in the provisions of this act, 
but members of the police and fire departments shall be excluded 
therefrom. 

Postmasters, and such employees of the Lighthouse Service as 
come within the provisions of section 6 of the act of June 20, 1918, 
entitled, " An act to authorize aids to navigation and for other works 
in the Lighthouse Service, and for other purposes," shall not be 
included in the provisions of this act. 

Sec. 2. That for the purpose of determining the amount of annuity 
which retired employees shall receive, the following classifications 
and rates shall be established : 

Class A shall include all employees to whom this act applies who 
shall have served the United States for a total period of thirty years 
or more. The annuity to a retired employee in this class shall equal 
6'0 per centum of such eniployee's average annual basic salary, pay, or 
compensation from the United States for the ten years next preced- 
ing the date on which he or she shall retire : Provided, That in no 
case shall an annuity in this class exceed $720 per annum or be less 
than $360 per annum. 

Class B shall include all employees to whom this act applies who 
shall have served the United States for a total period of twenty-seven 
years or more, but less than thirty years. The annuity to a retired 
employee in this class shall equal 54 per centum of such employee's 
average annual basic salary, pay, or compensation from the United 
States for the ten years next preceding the date on which he or she 
shall retire : Provided, That in no case shall an annuity in this class 
exceed $648 per annum, or be less than $324 per annum. 

Class C shall include all employees to whom this act applies who 
shall have served the United States for a total period of twenty-four 
years or more, but less than twenty-seven years. The annuity to a 
retired employee in this class shall equal 48 per centum of such em- 
ployee's average annual basic salary, pay, or compensation from the 
United States for the ten years next preceding the date on which he 
or she shall retire : Provided, That in no case shall an annuity in 
this class exceed $576 per annum, or be less than $288 per annum. 

Class D shall include all employees to whom this act applies who 
shall have served the United States for a total period of twenty-one 
years or more, but less than twenty-four years. The annuity to a 
retired employee in this class shall equal 42 per centum of such em- 
ployee's average annual basic salary, pay, or compensation from the 
United States for the ten years next preceding the date on which he 
or she shall retire : Provided, That in no case shall an annuity in this 
class exceed $504 per annum, or be less than $252 per annum. 



LliRAffy.Cf CONQRfSS 

NOV 21«2r 









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Class E shall include all employees to whom this act applies who 
shall have served the United States for a total period of eighteen 
years or more, but less than twenty-one years. The annuity to a 
retired employee in this class shall equal 36 per centum of such 
employee's average annual basic salary, pay, or compensation from 
the United States for the ten years next preceding the date on which 
he or she shall retire : Provided, That in no case shall an annuity in 
this class exceed $432 per annum, or be less than $216 per annum. 

Class F shall include all employees to whom this act applies who 
shall have served the United States for a total period of fifteen years 
or more, but less than eighteen years. The annuity to a retired 
employee in this class shall equal 30 per centiun of such employee's 
average annual basic salary, pay, or compensation from the United 
States for the ten years next preceding the date on which he or she 
shall retire : Provided, That in no case shall an annuity in this class 
exceed $360 per annum, or be less than $180 per annum. 

The term "basic salary, pay, or compensation" wherever used in 
this act shall be so construed as to exclude from the operation of 
the act all bonuses, allowances, overtime pay, or salary, pay, or 
compensation given in addition to the base pay of the positions as 
fixed by law or regulation. 

Sec. 3. That for the purpose of this act and subject to the pro- 
visions of section 10 hereof, the period of service shall be computed 
from the date of original employment, whether as a classified 
or unclassified employee in the civil service of the United States, 
and shall include periods of service at different times and services 
in one or more departments, branches, or independent oiRces of the 
Government, and shall also include service performed under author- 
ity of the United States beyond seas, and honorable service in the 
Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard of the United States: 
Provided, That in the case of an employee who is eligible for and 
elects to receive a pension under any law, or compensation under 
the war risk insurance act, the period of his or her military or 
naval service upon which such pension or compensation is based 
shall not be included for the purpose of assignment to classes defined 
in section 2 hereof, but nothing contained in this act shall be so 
construed as to affect in any manner his or her right to a pension, 
or to compensation under the war risk insurance act, in addition 
to the annuity herein provided. 

It is further provided that in computing length of service for the 
purposes of this act all periods of separation from the service and' 
so much of any period of leave of absence as may exceed six months 
shall be excluded, and that in the case of substitutes in the Postal 
Service only periods of active employment shall be included. 



Sec. 4. That for the purpose of administration, except as otherwise 
provided herein, the Commissioner of Pensions, under the direction 
of the Secretary of the Interior, be, and is hereby, authorized and 
directed to perform, or cause to be performed, any and all acts and 
to make such rules and regulations as may be necessary and proper 
for the purpose of carrying the provisions of this act into full force 
and effect. An appeal to the Secretary of the Interior shall lie 
from the final action or order of the Commissioner of Pensions 
affecting the rights or interests of any person or of the United States 
under this act, the procedure on appeal to be as prescribed by 
the Commissioner of Pensions, with the approval of the Secretary of 
the Interior. 

Sec. 5. That any employee to whom this act applies who shall 
have served for a total period of not less than fifteen years, and who, 
before reaching the retirement age as fixed in section 1 hereof, be- 
comes totally disabled for useful and efficient service by reason of 
disease or injury not due to vicious habits, intemperance, or willful 
misconduct on the part of the employee, shall upon his or her own 
application or upon the request or order of the head of the depart- 
ment, branch, or independent office concerned, be retired on an 
annuity under the provisions of section 2 hereof : Provided^ however^ 
That no employee shall be retired under the provisions of this sec- 
tion until examined by a medical officer of the United States or a 
duly qualified physician or surgeon or board of physicians or sur- 
geons designated by the Commissioner of Pensions for that purpose 
and found to be disabled in the degree and in the manner specified 
herein. 

Every annuitant retired under the provisions of this section, 
unless the disability for which retired is permanent in character, 
shall, at the expiration of one year from the date of such retirement 
and annually thereafter until reaching the retirement age as defined 
in section 1 hereof, be examined under direction of the Commis- 
sioner of Pensions by a medical officer of the United States, or a 
duly qualified physician or surgeon or board of physicians or surgeons 
designated by the Commissioner of Pensions for that purpose, in 
order to ascertain the nature and degree of the annuitant's disability, 
if any ; if the annuitant recovers and is restored to his or her former 
earning capacity before reaching the retirement age, payment of 
the annuity shall be discontinued from the date of the medical 
examination showing such recovery ; if the annuitant fails to appear 
for examination as required under this section, payment of the 
annuity shall be suspended until continuance of the disability has 
been satisfactorily established. The Commissioner of Pensions is 
hereby authorized to order or direct at any time such medical or 
other examination as he shall deem necessary to determine the facts 



relative to the nature and degree of disability of any employee 
retired on an annuity under this section. 

Fees for examinations made under the provisions of this section 
by physicians or surgeons who are not medical officers of the United, 
States shall be fixed by the Commissioner of Pensions, and such 
fees, together with the employee's reasonable traveling and other 
expenses incurred in order to submit to such examinations, shall 
be paid out of the appropriations for the cost of administering 
this act. 

In all cases where the annuity is discontinued under the provi- 
sions of this section before the annuitant has received a sum equal 
to the total amount of his or her contributions with accrued interest, 
the difference shall be paid to the retired employee, or to his or her 
estate, upon application therefor in such form and manner as the 
Commissioner of Pensions may direct. 

No person shall be entitled to receive an annuity under the pro- 
visions of this act, and compensation under the provisions of the 
act of September 7, 1916, entitled, " An act to provide compensa- 
tion for employees of the United States suffering injuries while in 
the performance of their duties, and for other purposes," covering 
the same period of time ; but this provision shall not be so construed 
as to bar the right of any claimant to the greater benefit conferred 
by either act for any part of the same period of time. 

Sec. 6. That all employees to whom this act applies shall, upon the 
expiration of ninety days next succeeding its passage, if of retirement 
age, or thereafter on arriving at retirement age as defined in section 1 
hereof, be automatically separated from the service, and all salary, 
pay, or compensation shall cease from that date, and it shall be the 
duty of the head of each department, branch, or independent office 
of the Government to notify such employees under his direction of the 
date of such separation from the service at least sixty days in advance 
thereof : Provided^ That no person employed in the executive depart- 
ments within the District of Columbia, retired under the provisions 
of this act during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1921, shall be re- 
placed by additional employees, but if the exigencies of the service so 
require, places made vacant by such retirement may be filled by pro- 
motion or transfer of eligible employees already in the service : Pro- 
vided^ That if within sixty days after the passage of this act or not less 
than thirty days before the arrival of an employee at the age of retire- 
ment, the head of the department, branch, or independent office of 
the Government in which he or she is employed certifies to the Civil 
Service Commission that by reason of his or her efficiency and willing- 
ness to remain in the civil service of the United States the continuance 
of such employee therein would be advantageous to the public service, 
such employee may be retained for a term not exceeding two years 



6 

upon approval and certification by the Civil Service Commission, 
and at the end of the two years he or she may, by similar approval 
and certification, be continued for an additional term not exceeding 
two years, and so on : Provided, however, That at the end of ten years 
after this act becomes effective no employee shall be continued in the 
civil service of the United States beyond the age of retirement de- 
fined in section 1 hereof for more than four years. 

Sec. 7. That every employee who is or hereafter becomes eligible 
for retirement because of age as provided in this act, shall, within 
sixty days after its passage or thirty days before reaching the retire- 
ment age, or at any time thereafter, file with the Commissioner of 
Pensions, in such form as he may prescribe, an application for an 
annuity, supported by a certificate from the head of the department, 
branch, or independent office of the Government in which the appli- 
cant has been employed, stating the age and period or periods of 
service of the applicant and salary, pay, or compensation received 
during such periods, as shown by the official records : Provided, how- 
ever, That in the case of an employee who is to be continued in the 
civil service of the United States beyond the retirement age as pro- 
vided in section 6 hereof, he or she may make application for retire- 
ment at any time within such period of continuance in the service; 
but nothing contained in this act shall be construed to prevent the 
compulsory retirement of such employee when in the judgment of the 
head of the department, branch, or independent office in which he 
or she is employed such retirement would promote the best interests 
of the service. 

Upon receipt of satisfactory evidence the Commissioner of Pen- 
sions shall forthwith adjudicate the claim of the applicant, and if 
title to annuity be established, a proper certificate shall be issued to 
the annuitant under the seal of the Department of the Interior. 

Annuities granted under this act for retirement on account of age 
shall commence from the date of separation from the service on 
or after the date this act shall take effect, and shall continue dur- 
ing the life of the annuitant. Annuities granted for disability under 
the provisions of section 5 hereof shall be subject to the limitations 
specified in said section. 

Sec. 8. That beginning on the first day of the third month next 
following the passage of this act and monthly thereafter there shall 
be deducted and withheld from the basic salary, pay, or compensa- 
tion of each employee to whom this act applies a sum equal to 2^ 
per centum of such employee's basic salary, pay, or compensation. 
The Secretary of the Treasury shall cause the said deductions to be 
withheld from all specific appropriations for the particular salaries 
or compensation from which the deductions are made and from all 
allotments out of lump-sum appropriations for payments of such 



salaries or compensation for each fiscal year, and said sums shall be 
transferred on the books of the Treasury Department to the credit, 
of a special fund to be known as " the civil service retirement and 
disability fund," and said fund is hereby appropriated for the pay- 
ment of annuities, refunds, and allowances as provided in this act. 

The Secretary of the Treasury is hereby directed to invest from 
time to time, in interest-bearing securities of the United States, such 
portions of the " civil service retirement and disability fund " hereby 
created as in his judgment may not be immediately required for 
the payment of annuities, refunds, and allowances as herein pro- 
vided, and the income derived from such investments shall constitute 
a part of said fund for the purpose of paying annuities and of carry- 
ing out the provisions of section 11 of this act. 

The Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized and empow- 
ered in carrying out the provisions of this act to supplement the 
individual contributions of employees with moneys received in the 
form of donations, gifts, legacies, bequests, or otherwise, and to 
receive, invest, and disburse for the purposes of this act all moneys 
which may be contributed by private individuals or corporations or 
organizations for the benefit of civil service employees generally or 
any special class of employees. 

Sec. 9. That every employee coming within the provisions of this 
act shall be deemed to consent and agree to the deductions from 
salary, pay, or compensation as provided in section 8 hereof, and 
payment less such deductions shall be a full and complete discharge 
and acquittance of all claims and demands whatsoever for all regu- 
lar services rendered by such employee during the period covered 
by such payment, except the right to the benefits to which he or she 
shall be entitled under the provisions of this act, notwithstanding 
the provisions of sections 167, 168, and 169 of the Ee vised Statutes 
of the United States, and of any other law, rule, or regulation affect- 
ing the salary, pay, or compensation of any person or persons em- 
ployed in the civil service to whom this act applies. 

Sec. 10. That upon the transfer of any employee from an unclassi- 
fied to a classified status, or upon the reinstatement of a former 
employee, credit for past service rendered subsequent to the date 
this act shall take effect, or for any part thereof, shall be granted 
only upon deposit with the Treasurer of the United States of the 
amount of such deductions with interest as provided in this act as 
would have been made for the periods of actual service, or part 
thereof, for which credit is to be given, but such interest shall not be 
computed for periods of separation from the service : Provided^ That 
failure to make such deposit shall not deprive the employee of credit 
for any past service rendered prior to the date this act shall become 
operative, and to which he or she would otherwise be entitled. 

Sec. 11. That in the case of an employee in the classified civil 
service of the United States who shall be transferred to an unclassi- 



8 

fied position, and in the case of any employee to whom this act applies 
. who shall become absolutely separated from the service before be- 
coming eligible for retirement on an annuity, the total amount of 
deductions of salary, pay, or compensation with accrued interest com- 
puted at the rate of 4 per centum j)er annum, compoundied on June 30 
of each fiscal year, shall, upon application, be returned to such em- 
ployee : Provided^ That all money so returned to an employee must 
be redeposited with interest before such employee may derive any 
benefit under the provisions of this act, upon reinstatement or 
retransfer to a classified position ; and in case an annuitant shall die 
without having received in annuities an amount equal to the total 
amount of the deductions from his or her salary, pay, or compensa- 
tion, together with interest thereon at 4 per centum per annum com- 
pounded as herein provided up to the time of his or her death, the 
excess of the said accumulated deductions over the said annuity 
payments shall be paid in one sum to his or her legal representatives 
upon the establishment of a valid claim therefor; and in case an 
employee shall die without having reached the retirement age or 
without having established a valid claim for annuity, the total 
amount of deductions with accrued interest as herein provided shall 
be paid to the legal representatives of such employee : Provided^ That 
if in case of death the amount of deductions to be paid under the 
provisions of this section does not exceed $300, and if there has been 
no demand upon the Commissioner of Pensions by a duly appointed 
executor or administrator, the payment may be made, after the 
expiration of three months from date of death, to such person or 
persons as may appear in the judgment of the Commissioner of Pen- 
sions to be legally entitled to the proceeds of the estate, and such pay- 
ment shall be a bar to recovery by any other person. 

Sec. 12. That annuities granted under the terms of this act shall 
be due and payable monthly on the first business day of the month 
following the month or other period for which the annuity shall have 
accrued, and payment of all annuities, refunds, and allowances 
granted hereunder shall be made by checks drawn and issued by the 
disbursing clerk for the payment of pensions in such form and man- 
ner and with such safeguards as shall be prescribed by the Secretary 
of the Interior in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations 
governing accounting that may be found applicable to such payments. 

Sec. 13. That it shall be the duty of the head of each executive 
department and the head of each independent establishment of the 
Government not within the jurisdiction of any executive department 
to report to the Civil Service Commission in such manner as said 
commission may prescribe, the name and grade of each employee to 
whom this act applies in or under said department or establishment 



who shall be at any time in a nonpay status, showing the dates such 
employee was in a nonpay status, and the amount of salary, pay, or 
compensation lost by the employee by reason of such absence. The 
Civil Service Commission shall keep a record of appointments, 
transfers, changes in grade, separations from the service, reinstate- 
ments, loss of pay, and such other information concerning individual 
service as may be deemed essential to a proper determination of 
rights under this act, and shall furnish the Commissioner of Pensions 
such reports therefrom as he shall from time to time request as 
necessary to the proper adjustment of any claim hereunder, and shall 
prepare and keep all needful tables and records required for carrying 
out the provisions of this act, including data showing the mortality 
experience of the employees in the service and the percentage of 
withdrawal from such service, and any other information that may 
serve as a guide for future valuations and adjustments of the plan 
for the retirement of employees under this act. 

The Commissioner of Pensions shall make a detailed comparative 
report annually showing all receipts and disbursements on account 
of refunds, allowances, and annuities, together with the total number 
of persons receiving annuities and the amounts paid them. 

Sec. 14. That none of the moneys mentioned in this act shall be 
assignable, either in law or equity, or be subject to execution, levy, 
or attachment, garnishment, or other legal process. 

Sec. 15. That there is hereby authorized to be appropriated, from 
any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of 
$100,000 for salaries and for clerical and other services, the purchase 
of books, office equipment, stationery, and other supplies, and all 
other expenses necessary in carrying out the provisions of this act, 
including traveling expenses and expenses of medical and other 
examinations as provided in section 5 hereof. 

The Secretary o:^ the Interior shall submit annually to the Secre- 
tary of the Treasury estimates of the appropriations necessary to 
continue this act in full force and effect. 

Sec. 16. That the Commissioner of Pensions, with the approval 
of the Secretary of the Interior, is hereby authorized and directed to 
select three actuaries, one of whom shall be the Government actuary, 
to be known as the Board of Actuaries, whose duty it shall be to 
annually report upon the actual operations of this act, with authority 
to recommend to the Commissioner of Pensions such changes as in 
its judgment may be deemed necessary to protect the public interest 
and maintain the system upon a sound financial basis. It shall be 
the duty of the Commissioner of Pensions to submit with his annual 
report to Congress the recommendations of the Board of Actuaries. 
It shall be the duty of the Board of Actuaries to make a valuation of 



10 

the " civil-service retirement and disability fund " at the end of the 
first year following the passage of this act and at intervals of every 
five years thereafter, or oftener, if deemed necessary by the Com- 
missioner of Pensions. The compensation of the members of the 
Board of Actuaries, exclusive of the Government actuary, shall be 
fixed by the Commissioner of Pensions with the approval of the 
Secretary of the Interior. 

Sec, 17. That all laws and parts of laws inconsistent with this act 
are hereby repealed. 

Approved, May 22, 1920. 



AMENDMENTS 

TO 

RETIREMENT ACT. 

AMENDMENT TO RETIREMENT ACT. 

Public — No. 142 — 67th Congress. S. 2802. 

An Act To amend an Act entitled "An act for the retirement of employees in 
the classified civil service, and for other purposes," approved May 22, 1920. 

Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That section 11 
of the act entitled "An act for the retirement of employees in the 
classified civil service, and for other* purposes," approved May 22, 
1920, is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof three new 
paragraphs to read as follows : 

" Each executive department, and each independent establishment 
of the Government not within the jurisdiction of any executive de- 
partment, shall establish and maintain such record as will enable it 
to determine the amount deducted within each fiscal year from the 
basic salary, pay, or compensation of each employee within its juris- 
diction to whom this act applies. When such employee is trans- 
ferred from one office to another a certified abstract of his official 
record shall be transmitted to the office to which the transfer is made. 

" When application is made to the Commissioner of Pensions for 
return of deductions and accrued interest, as provided in this section, 
such application shall be accompanied by a certificate from the 
proper officer showing the complete record of deductions, by fiscal 
years, and other data necessary to the proper adjustment of the 
claim. 

" The Commissioner of Pensions, with the approval of the Secre- 
tary of the Interior, shall establish rules and regulations for credit- 
ing and reporting deductions and for computing interest hereunder." 

Sec. 2. That section 13 of such act of May 22, 1920, is amended to 
read as follows: 

" Sec. 13. That it shall be the duty of the head of each executive 
department and the head of each independent establishment of the 
Government not within the jurisdiction of any executive depart- 
ment to report to the Civil Service Commission, in such manner as 
said commission may prescribe, the name and grade of each employee 

(11) 



12 

to whom this act applies in or under said department or establish- 
ment who shall be at any time in a nonpay status, showing the dates 
such employee was in a nonpay status, and the amount of salary, 
pay, or compensation lost by the employee by reason of such absence. 
The Civil Service Commission shall keep a record of appointments, 
transfers, changes in grade, separations from the service, reinstate- 
ments, loss of pay, and such other information concerning individual 
service as may be deemed essential to a proper determination of 
rights under this act, and shall furnish the Commissioner of Pensions 
such reports therefrom as he shall from time to time request as 
necessary to the proper adjustment of any claim for annuity here- 
under, and shall prepare and keep all needful tables and records 
required for carrying out the provisions of this act, including data 
showing the mortality experience of the employees in the service 
and the percentage of withdrawal from such service, and any other 
information that may serve as a guide for future valuations and 
adjustments of the plan for the retirement of employees under 
this act. 

" The Commissioner of Pensions shall make a detailed comparative 
report annually showing all receipts and disbursements on account 
of refunds, allowances, and annuities, together with the total number 
of persons receiving annuities and the amounts paid them." 

Approved, February 14, 1922. 



Public — No. 182 — 67th Congress. S. 3263. 

An Act Construing the expression " all employees in the classified civil service 
of the United States," as used in section 1 of the act of May 22, 1920, entitled 
" An act for the retirement of employees in the classified civil service, and for 
other purposes." 

Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Co7igress assemhled^ That in the admin- 
istration of the civil service retirement act approved May 22. 1920, 
the expression " all employees in the classified civil service of the 
United States," as used in section 1 thereof shall be construed to 
include all persons who have been heretofore or who may hereafter 
be given a competitive status in the classified civil service, with or 
without competitive examination, by legislative enactment, or under 
the civil service rules promulgated by the President, or by Executive 
orders covering groups of employees with their positions into the 
competitive classified service or authorizing the appointment of indi- 
viduals to positions within such service. 

The expression " classified civil service " as the same occurs in other 
acts of Congress shall receive a like construction to that herein given. 

Approved, March 27, 1922. 



13 

Public — No. 243 — 67th Congress. 

H. R. 11407. 

An act to amend an act entitled "An Act for the retirement of employees in the 
classified civil service, and for other purposes," approved May 22, 1920. 

Be it enacted T)y the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That section 2 of 
the act entitled "An act for the retirement of employees in the classi- 
fied civil service, and for other purposes," approved May 22, 1920, 
is hereby amended by inserting after the seventh paragraph the 
following : 

" Class G shall include charwomen, laborers, and other employees 
whether classified or unclassified, who are employed on a regular 
annual basis and whose basic salary, pay, or compensation is at a 
rate less than $600 per annum. The annuity to any retired employee 
shall be determined according to the method prescribed in the fore- 
going schedules, except that no annuitj^ shall hereafter be granted 
to exceed the percentum nor the maximum provided for the respec- 
tive periods of service. It is provided that this class of employees 
shall otherwise be subject to the provisions of the act of May 22, 
1920." 

Approved, June 17, 1922. 



EXECUTIVE ORDERS. 

EMPLOYEES OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE EXCEPT SECRETARY TO THE PRESIDENT 
INCLUDED IN THE PROVISIONS OF THE RETIREMENT ACT. 

EXECUTIVE ORDER. 

In the exercise of discretion conferred by the civil service retire- 
ment act, approved May 22, 1920, and upon recommendation of the 
Civil Service Commission, the provisions of said act are hereby 
extended to include employees of the Executive office, with the excep- 
tion of the Secretary to the President. 

WooDRow Wilson. 

The White House, 3 August, 1920. 



EXCLUSION OF EMPLOYEES OF THE ALASKAN ENGINEERING COMMISSION FROM 
PROVISIONS OF RETIREMENT ACT. 

EXECUTIVE ORDER. 

In the exercise of discretion conferred by the civil service retire- 
ment act, approved May 22, 1920, and upon the recommendation of 
the Secretary of the Interior and the Civil Service Commission, 
employees of the Alaskan Engineering Commission are hereby 
excluded from the provisions of said act. 

WooDRow Wilson. 

The White House, 24 September, 1920. 



EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN EMPLOYEES OF THE RECLAMATION SERVICE FROM THE 
PROVISIONS OF THE RETIREMENT ACT. 

EXECUTIVE ORDER. 

There are hereby excluded from the operation of the retirement 
act of May 22, 1920, noneducational employees in the Reclamation 
Service, intermittently and irregularly employed, and educational 
employees on daily rates, similarly employed, and the continuance 
of the present practice of making no deductions from their pay is 
hereby approved. This action is deemed necessary because of the 
intermittent character of the employment and the exceedingly fre- 
quent changes in personnel. 

WooDROw Wilson. 

The White House, 1 March, 1921. 

(14) 



15 

RETIREMENT ACT TO INCLUDE POSITIONS IN SCHEDULES A AND B OF 
CIVIL SERVICE RULES. 

EXECUTIVE ORDER. 

In pursuance of the authority granted by the act of May 22, 1920, 
" for the retirement of employees in the classified civil service," and 
upon recommendation of the Civil Service Commission, the pro- 
visions of said act are hereby extended to include employees ap- 
pointed to positions named in schedules A and B of the civil service 
rules through open competitive examination, and all former com- 
petitive classified employees serving in such positions to which they 
were or could have been promoted or transferred in accordance with 
the principles laid down in section 3 of civil service Rule II, that 
" the proper appointing officer may fill an excepted position as com- 
petitive positions are filled, in which case the person appointed will 
receive all the rights of a competitive employee." 

WooDROw Wilson. 

The White House, ^^ December^ 1920. 



EXTENSION OF THE RETIREMENT ACT TO UNCLASSIFIED LABORERS. 

EXECUTIVE ORDER OE JUNE 7, 192 2. 

(1) Under authority conferred by section 1 of the act of May 22, 
1920, for the retirement of employees in the classified civil service, 
and for other purposes, and upon recommendation of the Civil Serv- 
ice Commission, the provisions of said act are hereby extended, 
effective September 1, 1922, to include groups of employees in the 
executive civil service as follows : 

{a) Unclassified laborers in all cities and in establishments or 
offices in which appointments are made under labor regulations ap- 
proved by the President. 

(6) Unclassified laborers in all offices in which appointments are 
made from subclerical or other registers for the classified service. 

(c) Unclassified laborers who have been transferred from classi- 
fied positions. 

(2) An employee to whom this extension applies shall, in order to 
receive credit for service rendered since August 1, 1920, deposit with 
the Treasurer of the United States an amount equivalent to such de- 
ductions, with interest, as would have been made from his salary, pay, 
or compensation during such period had he been subject to the act; 
but failure to make such deposit shall not deprive the employee of 
credit for service to which he would otherwise be entitled. 



16 

(3) The provisions of this Executive order shall not extend to un- 
classified laborers employed in parts of the service in which classified 
employees have been excluded from the provisions of the retirement 
act by Executive order under section 1 of the act, nor shall they apply 
to employees who are in receipt of basic salary, pay, or compensation 
at a rate less than $600 per annum. * * * 

Warren G. Harding. 

The White House, June 7, 1922. 



POSITIONS AFFECTED 

BY THE 

RETIREMENT ACT. 

To Heads of DepartTnents, Branches, and Offices: 

Inquiries have been received concerning the application of the re- 
tirement act of May 22, 1^20, to certain classes of positions. 

The title of the act, namely, "An act for the retirement of em- 
ployees in the classified civil service, and for other purposes," con- 
tains words which are repeated several times in the act. The defini- 
tion of the chissified civil service contained in section 1 of civil service 
rule II excludes presidential appointees and mere unclassified la- 
borers. The Attorney General, in an opinion of June 23, 1913 (30 
Op. 181), held that the term " classified civil service " in section 6 of 
the act of August 24, 1912, relating to removals was used in the more 
popular sense of the competitive service, and therefore should not be 
held to include excepted positions, unless the occupants were ap- 
pointed competitively as permitted by the civil service rules. 

The commission is of the opinion, and so holds, that all employees 
appointed without competitive examination under schedules A and B 
of the civil service rules, section 10 of the civil service rule II, the 
Executive order of March 27, 1917, and any other employees ap- 
pointed without competitive tests are not covered by the retirement 
act with the exceptions noted hereinafter. However, a former com- 
petitive classified employee who has been promoted or transferred to 
a position excepted under schedule A to which he could have been 
appointed or who was appointed in accordance with section 3 of civil 
service rule II, namely, " but the proper appointing officer may fill 
an excepted position as competitive positions are filled, in which case 
the person appointed will receive all the rights of a competitive em- 
ployee," is an employee in the classified civil service of the United 
States and is covered by fehe retirement act. Persons included in the 
competitive classified service with their positions by general Execu- 
tive order or appointed to such positions by individual Executive 
order are included. Temporary appointees under sections 1, 2, 3, 
and 4 of civil service rule VIII are held not to be covered by the act, 
since they are not persons in the classified civil service of the United 

16028°— 22— VOL 21 2 (17) 



18 

States; that is, in the more restricted sense of competitive classified 
service. They are not appointed regularly after meeting all require- 
ments of competition, if any of them. This is indicated by the fact 
that temporary appointments in the departments at Washington are 
made without regard to the apportionment. Temporary employees 
are outside the scope of the law governing removals. Temporary 
employees do not have the full benefit of leave or other privileges 
allowed competitive employees. 
By direction of the commission. 
Very respectfully, 

Mapt^in a. Morrison", 

President. 
United States Civil Service Commission , June Jj-, 1920. 



RULES OF PROCEDURE. 

Regulations Governing the Administration of the Retirement 
Act of May 22, 1920. 

Under authority conferred upon the Commissioner of Pensions 
and the Secretary of the Interior by section 4 of the act of May 22, 
1920, 41 Stat. 614, the following regulations are. promulgated for 
the guidance of all concerned in the administration of the said act. 

organization. 

To administer the retirement act, there is created in the Bureau of 
Pensions a division which shall be called the Retirement Division. 

The division shall have charge of filing, jacketing, and numbering 
all claims for annuity, refund, and allowances, and the custody of the 
records thereof. All claims shall be numbered consecutively in the 
order of filing, the same number to be retained after issue of certifi- 
cate. The flat filing system shall be used for all claims and an alpha- 
betical card record shall be kept. 

discipline. 

The regulations governing the Pension Bureau heretofore or here- 
after adopted shall, in so far as in their nature they are applicable, 
govern the Retirement Division in all things relating to discipline. 

FUNCTIONS. 

The Retirement Division shall have sole charge of the adjudication 
of claims for annuities, refunds, and allowances, and all matters di- 
rectly or indirectly connected with such adjudication. 

This contemplates no change in the prescribed duties of the 
Finance Division and the Disbursing Division, with respect to pay- 
ments from " the civil service retirement and disability fund." 

CLAIMS AND EVIDENCE. 

Claims for annuities, refunds, and allowances shall be by applica- 
tion for the same filed in the Bureau of Pensions. Such application 
must be in a form prescribed by the Commissioner of Pensions. 

Printed forms have been prepared for use in making application 
for annuity, sections 1 and 6, refund, and accumulated deductions, 

(19) 



20 

section 11, accrued annuity, sections 5 and 7^, and service credit, 
section 10, such forms being designated by suitable numbers and 
containing such provisions for service record and such instructions 
for preparation, execution, and course of transmission to the Bureau 
as to materially speed the adjudication of all claims in case the in- 
structions are fully followed. These forms must be used as a basis 
for all claims. 

Claims shall first go to the mail section, which shall place thereon 
a stamp indicating the date of receipt in the bureau, and from there 
be sent directly to the Eetirement Division, which will determine the 
validity of the application. In event the application is lacking in 
essential elementSj, it may be returned to the proper party for com- 
pletion or correction, with a new blank, if necessary. However, the 
omission or defect may be supplied by affidavit if such a course is 
deemed preferable. 

Applications should be supported by a certificate from the head of 
the department, branch, or independent office of the Government in 
which the applicant has been last employed, stating the age and 
period or periods of service of the applicant, and salary, pay, or 
compensation received during such period or periods, as shown by 
the official records. An appropriate schedule form with full instruc- 
tions is made a part of the official application form itself. 

For further evidence in claims, inquiry should be made of the 
head of any department, branch, or independent office where the 
claimant was formerly employed, requesting information as to such 
employment. 

When loss or destruction or incompleteness of official records is 
shown, inferior or secondary evidence is then admissible and should 
be called for. 

The certificate from the head of the department, branch, or in- 
dependent office referred to in this act, must, in the case of the 
executive departments, be made by the head of the department or by 
one of the assistant heads, and in the case of a branch or independent 
office of the Government not within the jurisdiction of an executive 
department, the certificate must be made by the head of the branch 
or independent office or the acting head of such branch or inde- 
pendent office. 

In accordance with section 13 of the retirement act, such inquiry 
as may be deemed essential to the proper adjudication of the rights 
of applicants must be made of the Civil Service Commission in every 
case concerning the service of individuals. 

The Civil Service Commission is to keep a record showing all in- 
formation with reference to any employee, required in the adminis- 
tration of the retirement act, as provided in section 13 thereof. 



21 

Said commission will likewise advise as to the "status of employees 
under the act, and will determine who, under the act, are mechanics, 
city and rural letter carriers, and post-office clerks eligible for re- 
tirement at 65 years of age and railway postal clerks eligible for re- 
tirement at 62 years of age, in a particular case. 

Age and length of service will be determined from the reports of 
the department, branch, or independent office where applicant was 
last employed, supplemented by reports from other places of em- 
ployment and the Civil Service Commission. Where the facts are 
evident and computations arc required to determine the length of 
service, they will be made in the Bureau of Pensions. 

The Pension Bureau will concern itself only with the questions left 
to its determination by the act, viz, adjudication and payment of 
annuities, refunds, and allowances, and in ascertaining the facts 
necessary upon which to base its action in obtaining a result. Hypo- 
thetical questions or cases will not receive consideration. 

Under the provisions of said law and the comity between depart- 
ments, fullest faith and credence should be given to reports from ad- 
ministrative offices and the Civil Service Commission; however, 
should it come to the knowledge of the Bureau of Pensions that 
facts are probably otherwise than as stated in said reports, investi- 
gation may be made and the truth ascertained. 

In considering evidence and applying it to any case, the orders, in- 
structions, and regulations governing the Pension Bureau, in so far 
as their nature renders them applicable, shall apply. 

The right to annuity and the determination of the amount thereof 
shall depend upon eligibility for retirement, age, pay, and length of 
service. Each of. these facts must be determined from the evidence 
in the particular case. Annuities granted for retirement on account 
of age shall commence from the date of separation from the service 
and continue during the life of the annuitant, unless otherwise ter- 
minated by law. 

The average annual basic salary, pay, or compensation from the 
United States for the 10 years next preceding the date on which an 
employee shall retire will be the basis of computation for fixing the 
percentage of salary, such 10 years meaning allowable service years, 
as decided by the Comptroller of the Treasury, June 30, 1920. 

When the requisite service and age are shown entitling an appli- 
cant to the benefits of class A, periods of service and age beyond the 
requirement need not be fully developed at the expense of material 
delay in the adjudication of the claim. When, however, no such de- 
lay will occur, the complete service should be determined for future 
use in case legislative enactment may make such additional service 
of value. 



22 

The per cent of an employee's annual basic salary, pay, or compen- 
sation is calculated upon an annual salary of $1,200 for the last 10 
years of service to produce the maximum amount of the annuity. 
Although average salary in excess of $1,200 is immaterial in its ef- 
fect upon the annuity rate in such cases, such salary should be defi- 
nitely determined to meet future exigencies, such as change in an- 
nuity rates based upon exact salary, etc., and as a basis for the re- 
quirements of the Board of Actuaries provided by section 16 of the 
act. 

An employee's annual basic salary, pay, or compensation, for the 
last 10 years of service, when less than $1,200, must be accurately 
fletermined in order to arrive at a proper conclusion as to the exact 
amount of annuity to which such employee may be entitled. 

DISABILITY. 

An application for retirement on account of total disability under 
section 5 of the retirement act may be executed and filed at any time. 
An application under this section must be accompanied by certificate 
of the applicant's physician, if there be such, fully describing all 
physical signs of any existing disease or injury, with an expression of 
opinion as to the degree to which the applicant is disabled for useful 
and efficient service. In addition to the above requirement, a state- 
ment of the applicant's superior officer who may have personal knowl- 
edge of the facts by reason of close contact with the employee must 
be furnished, showing whether, in the opinion of such officer, the ap- 
plicant, on account of disease or injury, is totally disabled for useful 
and efficient service in the position held, and if not able to perform 
his present duties but able to perform the work of some other posi- 
tion, whether such other position has been offered the employee, to- 
gether with a description of the character of the duties of such other 
position and its attendant compensation. Such statement should also 
disclose whether the existing disease or injury is the result of vicious 
habits, intemperance, or willful misconduct on the part of the em- 
ployee. 

The Retirement Division, after determining that an employee has 
made proper claim, and such prima facia showing as is required by 
section 5 of the act of May 22, 1920, and that no legal grounds for 
rejection exist, shall cause the claimant to be examined by a medical 
officer of the United States or a duly qualified physician or surgeon 
or board of physicians or surgeons designated by the Commissioner 
of Pensions for that purpose. 

Said annuity shall commence from the date of inception of total 
disability for useful and efficient service, but not prior to termination 
of pay status. 



23 

Fees for examinations made under the provisions of the retirement 
act by physicians or surgeons who are not medical officers of the 
United States shall be allowed in the same amount, manner, and ex- 
tent as now allowed to them for making examinations in pension 
cases. All such fees shall be paid out of the appropriation for the 
cost of administering the retirement act, and a careful and separate 
account of such items shall be kept and report thereof made by the 
Commissioner of Pensions. 

APPLICAlTrON FOR REFUND OF DEDUCTIONS. 

Applications of claimants for return of deductions of salary, pay, 
or compensation, with accrued interest, under the provisions of sec- 
tion 11 of the act of May 22, 1920, as amended by the act of February 
14, 1922, shall be executed before some officer authorized to administer 
oaths for general purposes. If such officer is not required by law 
to have and use a seal, his official character, signature, and term of 
office must be certified by the proper State, county, or city officer un- 
der his official seal unless a certificate has been filed in the Bureau of 
Pensions for general reference. 

Applications shall be supported by a certificate which may be pre- 
pared and signed by any person who has custody of official records, 
showing deductions from the employee's basic salary, pay, or compen- 
sation, but the certificate must be countersigned by the head of the 
department or by one of the assistant heads, and in the case of a 
branch or independent office of the Government not within the juris- 
diction of an executive department, it may be countersigned by the 
head or acting head of such branch or independent office. The au- 
thority to countersign, however, may be delegated by the head of the 
department or independent establishment to some other person or 
persons, provided the one so designated files with the Commissioner 
of Pensions a duly authenticated certificate showing his authority to 
act. The commissioner may, in his judgment, limit the number of 
persons designated in each department or independent establishment. 

The certificate of the administrative officer shall include sufficient 
data to completely identify the claimant, and it shall show the actual 
amount deducted for the "civil service retirement and disability 
fund" from the basic salary, pay, or compensation earned during 
each fiscal year whether the employee's compensation is now, or has 
been since August 1, 1920, on an annual monthly, daily, hourly, or 
piecework basis, as well as other data necessary to the proper adjust- 
ment of the claim. 

Applications for return of deductions under the provisions of sec- 
tion 11 will no longer be forwarded to the Civil Service Commission 
for certification, but after completion should be mailed directly to 
the Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C. 



.24 

COMPUTATION OF INTEREST UNDER ACT OF MAT 22, 1920. 

In computing interest under the provisions of the retirement act 
the following practice will be observed, attention being invited to a 
relevant decision of the Comptroller of the Treasury dated September 
15, 1920, and his supplementary decision dated October 5, 1920. 

The commercial method — 30 days to the month — is adopted. Inter- 
est shall be computed " for the actual time involved in each case," 
but when applicable the rule of average will obtain. 

When an annuity based on disability is discontinued, requiring 
refund of surplus with interest to the annuitant, interest on accumu- 
lated deductions, as affected by annuity payments, shall terminate 
with date of death or, in the event of recovery, with date of retirement. 

In case an employee is transferred from an unclassified to a classi- 
fied status and elects to make contribution to the retirement fund, 
nunc pro tunc, compute deductions with interest retroactively, cover- 
ing the service for which credit is desired, but not including periods 
of separation. 

In case of separation of an employee from the classified service, 
requiring refund of deduction with interest, the interest will termi- 
nate with last day of such service. However, as suggested by the 
Comptroller of the Treasury in decision of September 15, 1920, no 
interest will be allowed on refunds when fractional parts of a year 
only are involved. 

Reinstatement to a classified position merely requires the employee 
to redeposit the amount refunded to him on separation from the 
service, no interest accruing during the interval of separation. 

All money returned to an employee upon transfer to an unclassified 
position must be redeposited with interest upon retransfer to a classi- 
fied position before such employee may derive any benefit under the 
provisions of the act. In such case the employee must also deposit 
the amount of such deductions with interest as would have been made 
for such periods had he remained in a classified position at the salary 
received in the unclassified position before credit may be accorded, as 
provided in rule 3. 

In case of death of an annuitant, requiring payment of surplus 
with interest to the legal' representative, compute interest on average 
bala»ce to date of death. 

The compounding of interest on June 30 of each year is interpreted 
as the addition of simple interest to deductions for current fiscal year, 
the sum to be treated as principal on which interest will be computed 
at the close of th^ next fiscal year or interest period, when deductions 
for such period with simple interest will also be added. 



25 

For example, in case of a present employee computation will be 
made June 30, 1921, at the average rate of 2 per cent simple interest 
on deductions for the current fiscal year; the principal thus pro- 
duced to be augmented 4 per cent June 30, 1922, also by the deductions 
for the fiscal year July 1, 1921 to June 30, 1922, plus simple interest 
thereon computed by the rule of average. 

SPECIAL EXAMINATIONS. 

If it be determined by the Retirement Division that a claim is prima 
facie established, request may be made upon the Special Examination 
Division for such examination as may be deemed proper, but before 
any case is submitted for special examination such action must be 
approved by the Commissioner of Pensions. 

In conducting special examinations under the retirement act the 
orders, instructions, and regulations pertaining to the conduct of 
examinations in pension claims, in so far as they are applicable, 
shall govern. 

GENERAL. 

Where, for the purpose of annuity, claimant alleges honorable 
service in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard of the 
United States, a statement of the facts must be obtained by calls 
on the War, Navy, or other department, "according to circumstances. 

When an employee includes such service in his statement as a 
ground for annuity, and it is shown by report from the War, Navy, 
or other department, that he has performed such service, whether 
pension has been allowed therefor shall be shown by report from 
the Bureau of Pensions; whether compensation has been allowed 
therefor shall be shown by report from the United States Veterans' 
Bureau. 

An applicant under the act of May 22, 1920, who is in receipt of 
pension or war-risk compensation, or is eligible to receive either, 
may elect to have his term of honorable service in the Army, Navy, 
Marine Corps, or Coast Guard of the United States added to his 
period of civil service for the purpose of computation under the 
provisions of section 3 of the act. 

Should it appear in the adjudication of a claim for annuity that 
the claimant will benefit by the inclusion of military or naval service 
and the relinquishment of pension or compensation, he should be so 
advised and permitted to exercise the right of election. 

Information shall be called for from the United States Em- 
ployees' Compensation Commission in cases affected by the provi- 
sions of the final paragraph of section 5 of the retirement act. 



26 

INSTRUCTIONS KEL,ATIVE TO PAYMENT OF ANNUITIES, REFUNDS, AND 

ALLOWANCES. 

Section 12 of the act of Congress approved May 22, 1920, entitled, 
" An act for the retirement of employees in the classified civil 
service, and for other purposes," provides : 

That annuities granted under the terms of this act shall be due and payable 
monthly on the first business day of the month following the month or other 
period for which the annuity shall have accrued, and payment of all annuities, 
refunds, and allowances granted hereunder shall be made by checks drawn 
and issued by the disbursing clerk for the payment of pensions in such form 
and manner and with such safeguards as shall be prescribed by the Secretary 
of the Interior in accordance with the laws, rules, and regulations governing 
accounting that may be found applicable to such payments. 

In accordance with the provisions of the above section it is hereby 
directed that checks in payment of annuities, refunds, and allow- 
ances shall be issued and mailed to the last known address of the 
payee without separate vouchers. A check mailed on account of an 
annuity shall constitute payment in case the annuitant is alive on the 
date of its issue but shall be void if death occurs prior thereto. 

It is f-urther directed that the checks shall show " Interior," " Ee- 
tirement," and the number of the annuitant's certificate on their face 
and have instructions printed on their back as follows : 

IMPORTANT. 

This check must be indorsed in ink by the person in whose favor it is drawn, 
and the name must be spelled exactly the same as it is on the face of the check. 

If indorsement is made by mark (x), it must be witnessed by two persons 
who can write, giving their places of residence in full. 

Pencil indorsements will not be accepted. 



Sign on this line. 
APPEAL. 

Appeal to the Secretary of the Interior lies from the final action 
or order of the Commissioner of Pensions affecting the rights or in- 
terests of any person or the United States under the retirement act. 

In the event that the final action or order of the Commissioner of 
Pensions adversely affects the rights or interests of any person under 
this act, such rejection will conclude with notice to the claimant of 
his right of appeal to the department, accompanied by a copy of these 
rules. Service thereof will be made by registered mail with request 
that receipt card be returned. 

Such appeal must be filed with the Commissioner of Pensions with- 
in 30 days from the date of service of notice of such final action or 
order. The commissioner will thereupon consider and determine 
whether the action or order from which the appeal is taken shall be 



27 

adhered to; and if he shall determine not to recede therefrom he 
shall, within a period of 30 days from receipt, forward said appeal, 
together with the record in the case, to the department with a report 
stating his reasons for so adhering to the previous action ; and said 
appeal shall thereupon be entered upon a docket kept for that pur- 
pose. Thereafter the jurisdiction of the commissioner shall cease 
and determine and the case will be adjudicated by the secretary on 
the record. 

When a decision thereon is rendered, copy of same will be duly 
served by the secretary's office upon appellant or his counsel by 
registered mail. 

Motion for rehearing before the secretary must be filed within 30 
days after receipt of the notice of the decision complained of, and 
will act as a supersedeas of the decision until otherwise directed by 
the secretary. Such motion must state concisely and specifically the 
grounds upon which it is based. Thereafter the cause will be again 
considered and appropriate action taken, which may consist either of 
adhering to the former decision or modifying or vacating the same, 
or the making of any other order deemed warranted. Notice thereof 
will be given by ordinary mail and the record will be at once re- 
turned to the files of the Pension Office for appropriate action 
under such final decision. 

In computing time under these rules the first day shall be ex- 
cluded and the last included: Provided^ however^ That where the 
last day falls on Sunday or a legal holiday or half-holiday such 
time shall include the next following business day. 

An appeal by an attorney will be entertained if he has filed a 
duly executed power of attorney for this purpose from the ap- 
pellant or is entitled under the rules to recognition; and no appeal, 
brief, motion, pleading, or other paper or communication relative to 
*a case on appeal, filed by a firm of attorneys or agents, shall be 
received or docketed unless the same be signed individually by one 
or more duly qualified members of such firm. 

An appeal taken on behalf of a claimant by or through a suspended 
or disbarred attorney will not be entertained. 

ATTOKNEYS. 

The retirement act contains no provision respecting the employ- 
ment or recognition of attorneys in the prosecution of claims there- 
under. The services of an attorney are seldom needed in such 
cases, as the evidence upon which such claims are adjudicated is 
usually a matter of official record. However, a claimant may be 
represented by an agent or attorney if desired. In order to be ac- 
corded recognition to appear in such case, an agent or attorney 



28 

must have complied with departmental regulations of September 27, 
1917, Vol. 46, Land Decisions, 206, issued under the authority of 
section 6 of the act of July 4, 1884, 23 Stat. 98-101. 

Washington Gardner, 

G oTrhmissioTier. 
June 16, 1922. 

Approved : 

E. C. Finney, 

Acting Secretary, 

O 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




012 263 753 (^ 



